Access Now

Digital rights
for everyone.

Derechos digitales
para todas.

.الحقوق الرقمية للجميع

Droits numériques
pour tous.

Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of people and communities at risk. By combining direct technical support, strategic advocacy, grassroots grantmaking, and convenings such as RightsCon, we fight for human rights in the digital age.

Recent News & Updates

#KeepItOn 2023 election watch
Content Governance
Content Governance

2023 elections and internet shutdowns watch

9 Feb 2023

Governments around the world continue to shut down the internet during elections. Join our 2023 elections watch to #KeepItOn.

Post
2023 elections and internet shutdowns watch
9 Feb 2023
2023 elections and internet shutdowns watch
Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022

28 Feb 2023

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented 187 internet shutdowns in 2022, across a record-setting 35 countries.

Post
Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
28 Feb 2023
Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
I Love Digital Rights Social Card
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Technology for Democracy at the second U.S. Summit: an update on our progress

23 Feb 2023
Post
Technology for Democracy at the second U.S. Summit: an update on our progress
23 Feb 2023
Technology for Democracy at the second U.S. Summit: an update on our progress
Surveillance
Surveillance

No to spyware: Biden administration bars U.S. federal government from using rights-abusing tech

28 Mar 2023

In a significant victory for human rights, the U.S. is barring operational use of foreign or domestic commercial spyware by all federal agencies, unless they meet stringent requirements.

Press Release
No to spyware: Biden administration bars U.S. federal government from using rights-abusing tech
28 Mar 2023
No to spyware: Biden administration bars U.S. federal government from using rights-abusing tech
Earthquake Turkey
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

In Africa and the Middle East, internet shutdowns shroud human rights abuses

9 Mar 2023

Access Now’s new joint report examines how authorities in Africa and the Middle East weaponize internet shutdowns to obscure human rights abuses.

Press Release
In Africa and the Middle East, internet shutdowns shroud human rights abuses
9 Mar 2023
In Africa and the Middle East, internet shutdowns shroud human rights abuses
Focused View
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

TikTok Bans: Short-Sighted Solutions to the Wrong Problem

19 Mar 2023
News
TikTok Bans: Short-Sighted Solutions to the Wrong Problem
Willmary Escoto ↗
19 Mar 2023
TikTok Bans: Short-Sighted Solutions to the Wrong Problem
European Ombudsman surveillance
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Shaping the next 20 years of digital rights in Europe

20 Mar 2023

As we mark the 20th anniversary of EDRi, the European Digital Rights network, it’s an apt moment to reflect on the story of digital rights in Europe so far, and to ask the question: how can we better equip Europe for the human rights challenges of the digital age?

Post
Shaping the next 20 years of digital rights in Europe
20 Mar 2023
Shaping the next 20 years of digital rights in Europe
TikTok
Data Protection
Data Protection

TikTok “Focused View” letter reply: open questions on privacy

28 Mar 2023

TikTok’s response to Access Now’s ask to clarify how it applies EU laws and human rights safeguards when using this feature.

Press Release
TikTok “Focused View” letter reply: open questions on privacy
28 Mar 2023
TikTok “Focused View” letter reply: open questions on privacy
Digital Identity Systems
Digital Identity Systems

Privacy first: Ugandan court hears civil society’s human rights  warnings on digital identity system

27 Mar 2023

The High Court or Uganda has ruled to allow expert intervention from Access Now and partners on the human rights red flags around the country’s digital ID system.

Press Release
Privacy first: Ugandan court hears civil society’s human rights  warnings on digital identity system
27 Mar 2023
Privacy first: Ugandan court hears civil society’s human rights  warnings on digital identity system
Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Apagones de internet en América Latina y el Caribe: ataques a la libertad de expresión en Brasil y Cuba

20 Mar 2023

En 2022, las autoridades bloquearon el internet en 35 países al menos 187 veces. Cuba y Brasil lo hicieron al menos tres veces en total.

Press Release
Apagones de internet en América Latina y el Caribe: ataques a la libertad de expresión en Brasil y Cuba
20 Mar 2023
Apagones de internet en América Latina y el Caribe: ataques a la libertad de expresión en Brasil y Cuba
Release Salma al-Shehab

President Museveni must veto Uganda’s repressive Anti-Homosexuality Bill

23 Mar 2023

President Museveni must veto Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill and help safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Press Release
President Museveni must veto Uganda’s repressive Anti-Homosexuality Bill
23 Mar 2023
President Museveni must veto Uganda’s repressive Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Civil society call: Terminate agreements on migrants’ biometric data
Digital Identity Systems
Digital Identity Systems

Sociedad civil exige la terminación de los acuerdos para el tratamiento transfronterizo de datos biométricos de personas migrantes

23 Mar 2023

México, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador y Estados Unidos: terminen los acuerdos para el intercambio de biométricos de personas migrantes.

Press Release
Sociedad civil exige la terminación de los acuerdos para el tratamiento transfronterizo de datos biométricos de personas migrantes
23 Mar 2023
Sociedad civil exige la terminación de los acuerdos para el tratamiento transfronterizo de datos biométricos de personas migrantes
Anti-cybercrime
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

ضربة جديدة لحرية التعبير في تونس

28 Mar 2023

من المفترض أن يحارب المرسوم عدد 54 في تونس الجرائم السيبرانية. عوضا عن ذلك، يهدد هذا المرسوم حرية التعبير ويقوض امبادئ الديمقراطية.

Post
ضربة جديدة لحرية التعبير في تونس
28 Mar 2023
ضربة جديدة لحرية التعبير في تونس
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere

21 Feb 2023
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UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere
21 Feb 2023
UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere
Elon Musk Twitter Collage sell
Digital Security
Digital Security

Beyond Twitter: digital safety tips to navigate the Musk takeover

23 Nov 2022

Things haven’t been going so well since Elon Musk took over Twitter. Here are digital safety tips to help keep yourself safe on the platform.

Post
Beyond Twitter: digital safety tips to navigate the Musk takeover
23 Nov 2022
Beyond Twitter: digital safety tips to navigate the Musk takeover
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights

29 Nov 2022

The “Declaration for content and platform governance principles in times of crisis” lays out principles for social media platforms to help ensure privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information during crises.

Publication
Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights
29 Nov 2022
Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights
RightsCon Costa Rica 2023 RightsCon

RightsCon

The world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age

Digital Security Helpline Helpline

Helpline

24/7 assistance for human rights defenders at risk in every region

Access Now Grants Grants

Grants

Supporting the grassroots and frontline organizations fighting for your rights around the world

We mobilize around the world

Access Now is made up of a diverse team of more than 130 experts working in centers of political power, tech innovation, and civic action around the world. We have registered offices in Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany, Tunisia, and the United States, with team members based in more than 20 countries across six continents.